Why Some MATCH Candidates Do Not Get Residency Interviews

There are several factors responsible for international medical graduates (IMGs) [both US and non-US IMGs] and medical students when it comes to not getting interviews from residency programs. An understanding of these factors may help you avoid the common mistakes and secure more interviews. We will discuss a few important ones here.

USMLE Exams: One of the main reasons is a lack of performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) exams. The exams are a crucial part of the residency application process and a low score can be a major obstacle in getting an invite.

ERAS Application Mistakes: Another reason is any type of mistake within the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) application. This can include errors in the personal statement, missing information, or incorrect submission of documents.

Personal Statement Issues: Personal statement issues can also be a factor in not receiving invites. This can include a lack of focus on why the candidate is interested in the specific specialty, or not highlighting their unique qualifications and experiences.

Letter of Recommendation Issues: Letter of recommendation issues can also be a factor in not receiving invites. This can include letters that are not specific to the candidate or the specialty they are applying to, or letters that do not highlight the candidate’s strengths.

Lack of Mentorship: Lack of mentorship for the MATCH process is another factor. Many IMGs and Caribbean students and graduates do not have access to a mentor who can guide them through the process, which can make it more difficult for them to navigate the application process.

Late Applications: Late applications can also be a factor in not receiving invites. It is important to apply as early as possible to increase your chances of getting an invite.

Limiting to a Certain Region: Limiting your application to a certain region can also be a factor in not receiving invites. It is important to apply to programs in different regions to increase your chances of getting an invite.

In conclusion, it is important for non-US & US IMGs and medical students to focus on improving their CV, experiences and step 3 scores, as well as to avoid any mistakes in ERAS application, to increase the chances of getting a interview invites. It is also important to have a mentor who can guide throughout the MATCH process. By deploying these strategies, IMGs can significantly increase the number of residency interviews.